LSU Fires Head Coach Brian Kelly willing to eat 53 million in buy-out

The Brian Kelly era at LSU has officially come to an abrupt end. Less than four years into his 10-year, $95 million contract, the Tigers have fired their head coach following a disastrous 49-25 loss to Texas A&M on Saturday night — a defeat that sealed one of the most disappointing seasons in recent program history.

The decision, confirmed Sunday, comes as LSU leadership decided a change was necessary to stabilize a program that has struggled to meet expectations since its 2019 national championship run under Ed Orgeron. Offensive coordinator Joe Sloan was also dismissed as part of the shake-up.

Kelly, who was lured away from Notre Dame in late 2021 to bring stability and national prominence back to Baton Rouge, never quite found his footing with the Tigers. Despite flashes of offensive brilliance and strong recruiting efforts, inconsistency, defensive lapses, and high-profile losses ultimately derailed his tenure.

Per contract terms, Kelly is expected to receive 90% of his remaining deal — roughly $53 million — to be paid out over the remaining years. It’s one of the largest buyouts in college football history, underscoring LSU’s determination to reset its football future.

In the interim, assistant head coach and longtime Louisiana recruiter Frank Wilson is expected to step in as acting head coach. Wilson, a respected figure within the program and the state’s high school football circles, will guide the team as LSU begins its search for its next leader.

Kelly’s firing marks yet another high-profile coaching change in the SEC, where expectations remain sky-high and patience runs thin. For LSU, the focus now shifts toward finding a coach capable of restoring the swagger and consistency that once defined Death Valley on Saturday nights.

As the Tigers look ahead to the next chapter, one thing is clear — LSU’s standard remains national championship or bust, and the search is on to find the right leader to meet it.